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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Bulgur Pilaf: The Instant Whole Grain

By now we've all heard that whole grains are healthier. However, one of the greatest barriers to eating whole grains is that they take longer to cook. Both singles and families are often pressed for time and turn to instant foods. I want to encourage you to engineer healthy snacks and meals you can prepare ahead of time that work for your tastes and lifestyle. Here's an idea:

1. Find an airtight container, like the kind you might use to store flour or cereal. (You can also use a zip-top bag.) Fill it half way with Bulgur Wheat, which you can find in spice stores, health food stores, and the bulk bins of many grocers. You may find it in a box marketed as tabouli/tabbouleh, often with spices added. (Pictured above is a side-by-side comparison of dry and prepared bulgur.)

3.Shake and store until your are hungry for an easy snack or need a side dish lickity-split. It will keep at room temperature for at least a couple weeks, but I prefer to store my mix in the fridge or freezer to protect from bugs and preserve the healthful oils in the nuts and seeds.

4. Prepare by adding about twice as much boiling water as bulgur. Then cover and wait. If your grains are not soft and plump, add more boiling water and wait. I boil water in my electric kettle and add it to the grains in a glass or ceramic bowl. You can use the microwave, stove-top, or whichever method you prefer.

Bulgur wheat is already boiled, dried and cracked, so it cooks/rehydrates quickly. It is faster to prepare than Ramen noodles and higher in fiber, protein and vitamins than white rice. With a glycemic index in the low range, this is an excellent grain to keep on hand.

Additionally, you could add fresh herbs and vegetables like you would with tabbouleh. Try any or all of the items suggested in Quinoa Tabbouleh. Below is the nutrition information from Wikepedia.

1 cup of dry bulgur contains approximately:

Energy: 2003 kJ (479 kcal)

Dietary fiber: 25.6 g

Protein: 17.21 g

Carbohydrate: 69 g whereof 0.8 g sugars

Fat: 1.86 g whereof 0.2 g saturated fat

Potassium: 574 mg

Iron: 3.44 mg

Glycemic Index: 46 (I also saw 48 from other sources.)

If you are guilty of bringing instant noodles or soup to work for lunch, put your bulgur mix in a Tupperware container or in sandwich bags with a large Styrofoam cup in 1/2 cup portions. Add one cup hot water from the water cooler or coffee maker. You body will thank you. If you know a college student who needs to improve their eating habits, send them this wholesome alternative to Cup-O-Noodles.